Teens bring in new year at 'Sci-Fi Out of this World' dance

Rancho Santa Margarita teens Hailey Davis and Haley Brennan celebrate the new year at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Regional New Year's Eve Dance held in Aliso Viejo.PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE

More than 800 teens, ages 14-18, attended the "Sci-Fi Out of this World" New Year's Eve dance, held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aliso Viejo.

After the teens were checked in and briefed on the rules for the dance, they filed into a gigantic cultural hall decorated with a Sci-Fi theme.

Liz Forrest, Santa Margarita stake young women's president, said, "The youth dictate both the theme and the refreshments and even help decorate the building the morning of the event. The dance is planned by the teens that serve on the four local youth councils."

Four projectors were positioned about 20 feet high, playing four different Sci-Fi movies on the walls without sound, while the DJ pulled out all the stops with current music, light shows and a smoke machine. At one minute before midnight, the teens crowded toward the center of the dance floor to count down to the new year, as hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling at exactly midnight.

Starting more than 35 years ago, the LDS church felt a need to provide a safe, wholesome, alcohol and drug free environment for youth to celebrate the new year.

Rancho Santa Margarita teens Hailey Davis and Haley Brennan celebrate the new year at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Regional New Year's Eve Dance held in Aliso Viejo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
At check-in, teens receive a wrist band from the leaders of their areas. The "stakes" or congregations represented include Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Laguna Niguel, and Mission Viejo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Jamie Draper of Ladera Ranch explains to a small group of teens the rules of conduct for the dance - be respectful of one another, no freak dancing and no gum. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
The DJ from San Clemente prepares next song and light show for Mormon teens at the Regional New Year's Eve Dance held in Aliso Viejo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Laguna Beach teens dress up in crazy clothing for the Regional Sci-Fi Out of This World New Year's Eve Dance held annually in Aliso Viejo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Rancho Santa Margarita teens Alex Cole and Jenni Meredith dance near Jenni Feist of Foothill Ranch and Lauryn Carroll and Sarah Paul of Portola Hills at the New Year's Eve dance held in Aliso Viejo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Mormon teens from Rancho Santa Margarita put their hands in the air outside of the Regional Mormon New Year's Eve dance held in Aliso Viejo. Samantha Moore, Claire Kane, Kenizie Hughes and Micah Harps, Gavin Thornburg and Colin Clark are from Rancho. Penelope Lake, Kendra and Paige Abeyta are from Portola Hills. Tori Feist, Darren Robertson and Danny Perez are from Foothill Ranch. Kendra Boden was visiting from Peoria, Ariz. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Aliso Viejo teens McKenzie Hunter and Tosch Truman enjoy a laugh at the Regional Mormon New Year's Eve dance held in Aliso Viejo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Mormon teens from Laguna Beach are ready to for the Regional New Year's Eve dance party, held in Aliso Viejo. Pictured are Penn Nielson, Cameron Zuziak, Isaac Ballard, Indy Brian, Ford Brian, Isaiah Galland, Hunter and Pierce Ashworth. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Mormon teens from Ladera Ranch celebrate the new year at the Regional New Year's Eve dance, held in Aliso Viejo. Pictured are Paige Davenport, Braeden Johnson, Molly Rafferty, Ben Conover and Kyrsten Applebee. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Mormon teens from Ladera Ranch celebrate the new year at the Regional New Year's Eve dance, held in Aliso Viejo. Pictured are Paige Davenport, Braeden Johnson, Molly Rafferty, Ben Conover and Kyrsten Applebee. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Mormon teens from Mission Viejo take a break from dancing at the Regional New Year's Eve Dance, held in Ailso Viejo. Pictured are Alli Zundel, Kendall Wright and Sam Goodman. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE
Mission Viejo teens Emma Bowker and Delaney Adams join up with Vanessa Rutunuman from Rancho Santa Margarita. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN LAKE

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